Before we start crafting, it’s fun to understand why the Dutch love the color orange so much. The Royal Family belongs to the House of Orange-Nassau, making orange the national color.
On King’s Day, the streets of Amsterdam and other cities turn into massive open-air flea markets (vrijmarkt). It is the one day of the year when anyone can sell second-hand goods on the street without a permit. Children often set up stalls to sell old toys or perform music for passersby. It’s a day of unity, music, and “Orange Madness!”
15 Creative Netherlands Crafts for Kids
1. Origami Tulip Garden
Tulips are the undisputed symbol of the Netherlands, even though they were originally brought over from Türkiye centuries ago. Today, the Dutch export billions of these bulbs every year.
- The Craft: Use square pieces of colorful origami paper to fold simple tulip heads.
- Educational Tip: Attach them to green pipe cleaners or craft sticks to create a “bouquet” that never wilts.
2. Paper Plate Windmills
With over 1,000 historic windmills dotting the landscape, these structures are essential to Dutch history. They were traditionally used to pump water out of low-lying lands to create “polders.”
- The Craft: Use a paper plate as the base and a toilet paper roll for the tower. Cut “sails” out of cardstock and attach them with a brass fastener so they can actually spin!
3. DIY Dutch Clogs (Klompen)
Wooden shoes, or klompen, were once the standard footwear for farmers and artisans because they were sturdy and waterproof.
- The Craft: You can recreate these using yellow cardstock or even by decorating old oversized slippers with yellow paper.
- Fun Fact: Almost 6 million clogs are still produced annually, mostly as souvenirs for the millions of tourists who visit the Dutch countryside.
4. Delft-Inspired Blue and White Plates
Delftware is a world-famous style of blue and white pottery originating from the city of Delft.
- The Craft: Give your child a white paper plate and a blue marker. Encourage them to draw traditional Dutch scenes—like windmills, tulips, or sailing ships—using only blue ink.
- Art Lesson: This teaches kids about monochromatic art and intricate pattern work.
5. Cardboard Canal House Diorama
Amsterdam is famous for its narrow, tall houses lining the canals. Why are they so narrow? In the 17th century, residents were taxed based on the width of their house’s facade!
- The Craft: Use recycled cereal boxes to create tall, thin buildings. Paint them in dark tones with white “hook” details at the top (which were used to hoist furniture through windows).
6. The “Orange Madness” Crown
Since the King is from the House of Orange, everyone wears orange on his birthday. While the King himself doesn’t wear the official crown (it’s too big for a human head!), kids love to make their own.
- The Craft: Use bright orange construction paper to cut out a crown. Decorate it with “jewels” made of glitter or sequins.
7. Dutch Flag Heart Craft
The Dutch flag is a horizontal tricolor of red, white, and blue.
- The Craft: Cut strips of red, white, and blue paper and weave them or glue them onto a heart-shaped template. It’s a great way to talk about the symbolism: Red for courage, White for peace, and Blue for loyalty.
8. Sinterklaas Steamboat
Sinterklaas (the Dutch inspiration for Santa Claus) arrives in the Netherlands not on a sleigh, but on a steamboat from Spain!
- The Craft: Use an empty egg carton as the hull of the boat. Add a paper funnel and a small flag to complete the vessel.
9. Miffy the Bunny Papercraft
Miffy (or Nijntje in Dutch) is a world-famous bunny created by Dutch illustrator Dick Bruna.
- The Craft: Miffy is known for her simple lines and primary colors. Have kids draw a white bunny on a bright orange or blue background using simple geometric shapes.
10. Toilet Paper Roll “Royals”
Create a miniature King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima.
- The Craft: Wrap toilet paper rolls in felt or colored paper. Use yarn for hair and gold foil for the King’s royal accents.
11. Tulip Field Perspective Art
If you’ve ever seen photos of the Keukenhof gardens, you know the tulip fields look like long, colorful stripes.
- The Craft: Teach kids about perspective. Draw lines meeting at a “vanishing point” on the horizon and color each section a different bright color to represent rows of flowers.
12. Traditional Windmill 3D Model
For older kids, a more complex 3D model is a great challenge.
- The Craft: Use a pringles can or a tall cardboard tube. Construct the “cap” of the windmill out of a paper cone. This makes for a great desk decoration!
13. Dutch “Lace” Paper Doilies
Historically, Dutch women wore beautiful lace caps as part of their traditional costume.
- The Craft: Use white coffee filters. Fold them and cut out small shapes (like making paper snowflakes) to create a delicate lace effect.
14. Bike Path Collage
Since there are more bikes than people in the Netherlands, a bike-themed craft is a must!
- The Craft: Use black paper for the road and have kids cut out bicycle shapes from magazines or draw them to create a busy “Amsterdam street scene.”
15. Salt Dough “Stroopwafels”
Stroopwafels are a delicious Dutch treat consisting of two thin waffles with caramel syrup in the middle.
- The Craft: While you can’t eat these, you can make “pretend” stroopwafels using salt dough. Press a wire cooling rack into the dough to get the characteristic waffle pattern.
SEO Perspective: Why Netherlands Crafts are Trending
As an educator or parent, searching for “European culture crafts” or “King’s Day activities” helps broaden a child’s worldview. From an SEO standpoint, focusing on interactive learning and recycled materials makes these projects highly searchable and valuable for classroom settings. These crafts cover history, geography, and art, making them a “triple threat” for educational content.
Final Thoughts
The Netherlands is a country that celebrates creativity, sustainability (every Dutch train runs on wind energy!), and happiness. According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, it remains one of the top five happiest nations on Earth.
Through these crafts, kids can experience a bit of that Dutch joy. Whether they are spinning their paper windmills or wearing their orange crowns, they are connecting with a culture that values history while looking toward a bright, “orange” future.
